After a sub-par season debut, Pitt's defense did what it had to do Friday against Ohio.
"After Notre Dame, we had a sick feeling in our stomach. We weren't going to let that happen again," linebacker Clint Session said.
The Panthers yielded a whopping 33 first downs and 502 total yards in the opener against the Fighting Irish. Those numbers dropped to 11 first downs and 208 yards against Ohio.
"I thought our defense stepped up (and played) about as good as they can play," coach Dave Wannstedt said.
The downside, of course, is that the result was the same -- a devastating upset loss. Pitt, the defending Big East champion, is 0-2 for the first time in 21 years.
"I never would have expected this, especially considering what we did last year," defensive tackle Thomas Smith said. "You'd expect the momentum to carry over. But it's like coach says, it's a whole new thing. We can't live off what we did last year."
Smith, more than anyone, knows that is true. Last season, he was a standout defensive end, played in all 12 games and ranked second on the team with three sacks.
This year, Smith has been switched to the interior line and has gotten off to a slow start while recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery.
Smith was on the field for just about half-dozen plays against Notre Dame. Against Ohio, he was back in the starting lineup and played nearly the entire game.
"I felt pretty good, about 90 percent," he said. "I rolled my ankle in the last couple plays in the game, so that's a little rough. But once you're out there, you forget every pain you've got. You just want to win. I don't feel any pain, mental or physical, until after the game."
Although he was still a little gimpy, Smith made six tackles (five solo) against Ohio. One key play came late in the third quarter, when he dropped tailback Voncarie Owens for a 1-yard loss on third-and-short.
"Thomas made a difference, he really did," Wannstedt said. "He and Clint Session both made some plays. It was good to have those two guys back."
Session also had knee surgery during preseason camp, and he did not play at all against Notre Dame. On Friday, Session finished with four tackles (three solo).
"My knee felt pretty good," Session said. "No big problems with it. It's still going to be sore because I just had surgery, but it felt pretty good, for the most part."
Although they gave the Panthers a boost Friday, Smith and Session were nothing but spectators during the most important play of the game.
On the third play of overtime, Ohio cornerback Dion Byrum ran back an interception 85 yards for the game-winning touchdown.
Smith, standing on the sideline with the rest of his defensive mates, could only watch as Byrum -- and the Bobcats -- ran away with the game.
"It was a punch in the gut," Smith said.
Things do not get any easier this week. The Panthers will play a road game against Nebraska.
"It's a tall order, but that's when we play best -- when our backs are to the wall," Smith said. "We're the Pitt Panthers, that's what we do. We come out fighting. It's not over. It's a long season. We've got to get back to work."
